title: Cutaneous vascular anomalies associated with neural tube defects: nomenclature and pathology revisited.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lumbosacral cutaneous vascular anomalies associated with neural tube defects are frequently described in the literature as "hemangiomas." The classification system for pediatric vascular anomalies developed by the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies provides a framework to accurately diagnose these lesions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To apply this classification to vascular cutaneous anomalies overlying myelodysplasias.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of patients with neural tube defects and lumbosacral cutaneous vascular lesions was performed. All eligible patients had detailed histopathologic analysis of skin and spinal cord/placode lesions. Clinical and radiologic features were analyzed. Conventional histology and GLUT-1 immunostaining were performed to differentiate infantile capillary hemangiomas from capillary vascular malformations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten cases with cutaneous lesions associated with neural tube defects were reviewed. Five lesions were diagnosed as infantile capillary hemangiomas based upon histology and positive GLUT-1 endothelial reactivity. These lesions had a strong association with dermal sinus tracts. No reoperations were required for residual intraspinal vascular lesions, and overlying cutaneous vascular anomalies involuted with time. The remaining 5 lesions were diagnosed as capillary malformations. These occurred with both open and closed neural tube defects, did not involute, and demonstrated enlargement and darkening due to vascular congestion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies scheme should be used to describe the cutaneous vascular lesions associated with neural tube defects: infantile capillary hemangiomas and capillary malformations. We advocate that these lesions be described as "vascular anomalies" or "stains" pending accurate diagnosis by clinical, histological, and immunohistochemical evaluations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA. todd.maugans@cchmc.org
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maugans
authors.forename: Rachel M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Sheridan
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D018324:Hemangioma, Capillary / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009386:Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary / Q000150:complications*; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000145:classification* / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D017445:Skin Diseases, Vascular / Q000209:etiology*; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1